precious cargo

" PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD !"

Captain Pace was not ready to entertain clients , or visitors of any sort .

He had moored at the farthest dock available for a reason , he had given his crew two days liberty for a reason , the same reason in fact .

That reason being … he wanted some rest , specifically some much needed extended sleep .

" PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD ! "

There it was again

THUMP THUMP THUMP

And now someone was pounding on his cabin door .

" What is it Simon? " He knew it must be his first mate , Simon Lear .

" Captain , there's a fellow here be wanting to speak with you , I've told him to leave but he is persistent "

" He looks to be of the type to have money , should I call the harbor master sir ?

Captain Emanuel Pace swung his legs off the bunk and onto the floor .

" Let him aboard "

" Aye captain "

" AND MAKE COFFEE ! "

Captain Pace got up from his bunk , pulled on his clothes and went from his sleep quarters to his cabin proper .

He gathered up the maps and charts that cluttered the table and rolled them up and put them in the chart cabinet . and then he settled into his chair at the head of the table .

That was when he noticed the coffee pot already sitting there , and a large tin mug , waiting to be filled .

Captain Pace poured himself a mug of coffee , sugared it twice and then bellowed … " Bring him in Mr. Lear "

The first mate , Simon Lear , opened the double doors and led the visitor into the captain's cabin , and gestured to the seat opposite from that which the captain occupied .

" Captain Pace , may I present Sir Wallace Fullerton "

" Please Mr. Fullerton have a seat , and state your business "

Sir Wallace Fullerton glanced briefly about the cabin , and then from the first mate to the captain , before finally taking the seat offered him .

" Might I get a mug of your coffee ? "

Captain Pace nodded to his first mate , who poured a mug of coffee for their visitor and set it on the table before him .

Emanuel and Simon exchanged a quick look and then Simon poured himself a mug of coffee and took the seat to the captain's left .

" Let me get to it then "

" I want to hire your ship and crew for transport of a special cargo to the new world , Massachusetts colony to be precise , there is a river in Northern Massachusetts colony called the Penobscot , and I have acquired a lease to a tract of land thereabouts ."

" So what is this special cargo ?"

" Ah Yes, to the point , Yes of course , Trees that is my cargo , Pear trees to be precise , As well as an especially designed container for their transport "

" Trees ? " asked Simon

" Oh not just any trees , Twelve of the finest pear trees in the known world . Perhaps you have heard of my family , The Fullerton's have been growing the finest fruit trees in all of Europe for four generations "

" And not just pears , apples , dates , plums , and nuts as well walnuts to be precise . "

" But its the pear trees that I need you to transport , as well as a few small crates ."

" Crates ? , crates of what ? , asked Simon .

" Well , seeds of course ! "

" Seeds ? , so why not pear seeds as well then ?, why trees ? "

" Seeds take time to sprout , and years to grow , and even more years to produce , these few trees are on the cusp of producing some fine fruit . "

Simon glanced over at his captain , Captain Pace returned the look with a shrug of his shoulders .

" I am prepared to offer 40,000 gold Par for the passage , but we must leave within three days time "

" That is a fine price , but why the urgency ?" asked the captain .

" Timing , Yours is the fastest ship I could find , my trees will do well , but only if they are planted in their new home within two months time , after that they will suffer from the confines of their cases ."

" And one more minor detail ," … My carpenter will need to attach a green house to your deck , a few holes drilled to anchor the structure in place , and all will be restored to original upon arrival . "

" So let's get this proper , a structure of some sort attached to my ship's deck , filled with trees and crates of seeds . " and yourself as well , so you'll want a cabin . "

" A cabin would be welcome , and one other passenger , my carpenter ."

" So two cabins then ?"

" No just the one … you see the carpenter that I speak of , is also my wife . "

First mate Lear turned a look to his captain , many a seafarer considered a woman on board to be bad luck , and Simon Lear was one of them .

While Captain Pace did not share his first mate's superstition about women aboard ship , he knew that others of his crew did .

" 40,000 gold par you say . For that price you could buy your own ship outright and hire a crew for six months , and still have a bit left over ".

" It's not about the money Captain Pace , it is a matter of time . You see I had booked passage on " The Wisp " but she is three weeks overdue , on a voyage that should have only taken her five weeks , or six at most ."

" We were due to set sail a week ago , and my timing is quite urgent . You see I need to get my trees into their new ground within the next two months or they are bound to fail ."

Captain Pace and his first mate exchanged a glance , they had both heard of " The Wisp " being long overdue , and presumed lost at sea with all hands .

Captain Pace saw Lear make a clear gesture of pulling on his left ear with his right hand , a silent signal that they both knew to be a vote of dissent .

There was no greater ill fortune than to take business from a lost ship , and to have a woman on board as well , Simon Lear made his point clear with that simple gesture .

" How do you intend to make good on your fee of 40,000 gold par ? , that is a sizeable amount Sir Fullerton "

" However you like Captain "

Simon Lear rose from the table at this point , he wanted no further part in this discussion .

" I am prepared to deliver half now , and half in trust upon your return , or failing your return , to whomever you designate as trustee ."

Captain Pace rose from the table .

" Mr. Fullerton I ask that you excuse yourself from this cabin as I consult with my first mate "

" Of course sir , I shall await your decision top side . "

First mate Lear waited until Sir Fullerton had left the cabin and the doors shut behind him .

" Tis a bad trip to take on , Capt'n , tis twice the curse for it , what with taking on a doomed ship's book , and a woman as crew to boot , It stinks of bad fortune . no good can come of it sir "

" I won't hold you to your bond , and I'll give you a letter of reference if you choose to part ways , but I cannot pass up this opportunity "

" I'll not break my bond , I been wit ye to long , but god help us ."

" Go fetch him Mr. Lear "

The first mate nodded and went topside only to return a moment later with Sir Fullerton in tow .

" I accept your offer , with one stipulation ."

" And that would be ?"

" Simple enough , Full payment , up front , before we embark "

" Agreed "

Over the next two days , Two chests of gold coins were delivered and accounted for , totaling the 40,000 gold par as agreed .

Also a small structure was built upon the forward deck six feet wide by twelve feet in length at it's base tapering up to five feet by ten at it's height of seven feet , a single door at the aft end and glass panes all around , with wooden panels that could be fixed over it all if needed . A finer green house could not be conceived .

First mate Lear made the rounds of the local taverns and brothels and rounded up the crew , informing each of them as to the details of the hire , and the pay off that would be had . six months pay for two months work , not a one declined .

They got underway the next morning on the outgoing tide .

They cleared the harbor and set all sails , and were shortly making good speed on a brisk morning breeze . By mid day they watched as the last bit of Portugal disappeared from sight beneath the horizon .

They met several inbound ships as they made their way west , some they knew well , others not at all .

By evening a squall had come from the East to chase them off from the continent of Europe and send them on their way . It was actually a welcome bit of luck , as they rode before it and made good time as a result . By morning the storm had passed and a mild breeze sped them on their way .

Days and nights passed as they are bound to do .

At first the crew avoided the passengers , Danielle Fullerton , because she was bad luck , and Wallace Fullerton because he was perpetually seasick . and most often in his cabin .

But the Captain found himself often shadowed by Lady Fullerton , as she herself was quite bored , what with having nothing to do other than tending to her husbands needs as he remained indisposed in all but the calmest of weather .

It was but twenty three days out when there came a shriek from the cabin shared by Lady and Sir Wallace Fullerton . As she then bolted from the cabin and ran to the greenhouse where she collapsed in a sobbing heap .

Sir Wallace had passed away during the night . The rigors of the sea had taken it's toll on him , onto his demise .

Captain Pace himself placed the body on a bit of canvas sail cloth , wrapped in close and sewed it closed .

They were but ten days shy of land fall by best reckoning , so a burial at sea was foregone .

That evening a strong wind came up from the East , as if intent to hasten their arrival , which lasted well into the third day .

Land Ho !

Six days after his passing , Sir Wallace arrived in the new world , A day later the little ship entered the mouth of the Penobscot river and found a Sandy Point to put ashore .

They anchored just off shore , and disassembled the greenhouse and transferred it to shore by long boat , and then the crates and trees as well , and then Sir Wallace's body and the few personal belongings that he and his now widow had brought with them .

The crew dug a grave , and there was a brief ceremony , and the crew went back to the ship . leaving only Danielle , Captain Pace , and First mate Lear there at the grave site . As well as one last long boat .

Simon Lear assisted Captain Pace as he unloaded his personal belongings from the longboat .

One of the crates that the Fullerton's had included , contained a disassembled cart which Danielle had put together and was now loaded with the trees and seeds and her belongings , as well as those which Captain Pace had brought ashore .

" The ship is yours now old friend , I'll be staying ashore here with Danielle , the papers of transfer are in my cabin "

" It's not what you think " said Pace , " We are going to be business partners . I am going to become a fruit farmer "

" A Grower " said Danielle , a trace of a smile let a trickle of a laugh escape her for the first time since her husband passed a week ago .

" A Grower " said Pace .

The two men embraced .

" Take care of my … your ship . "

Captain Simon Lear rowed the last long boat back out to the waiting ship with tears rolling down his cheeks .